Preschool

Integrated Preschool Program

The Integrated Preschool Program or PALS (Preschool for All Learning Styles) educates special needs and typically developing children in a fun, hands-on learning environment. Children explore their world through movement, art, science, literacy, math, music, cooking, dramatic play, and sensory activities related to various themes. Students participate in whole group activities, learn in small groups with teachers, and gain independence as they follow the routines of the class and play with peers during center time. Learning activities are based upon the New Jersey Department of Education’s Preschool and Teaching Learning Expectations and are responsive to the individual needs and abilities of each child. Research has shown that all students benefit from being in this type of program.

The integrated preschool program is held four days a week at Mount Prospect School. The morning session takes place from 9:00-11:45 a.m. and the afternoon session takes place from 12:45-3:30 p.m. There are no classes on Fridays. A dual certified teacher in Special Education and P-3 General Education teaches the classes and a Speech Language Specialist provides additional speech and language supports. An instructional aide provides additional instructional support.

The class size ranges from 12-15 students with up to 7 special needs and 8 typically developing students. Special needs preschoolers are those identified by the Preschool Child Study Team and found eligible for special education and related services under the New Jersey Administrative Code. The typically developing students are enrolled on a first come first serve basis when registration opens. Once accepted into the program, each student may return until reaching kindergarten age. Children need to be toilet trained prior to entering the program in September.

Comprehensive Behavior Analytic Preschool Program

The COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIOR ANALYTIC PROGRAM (CBAP) is based upon the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The program bases all its teaching techniques, program protocol, and data collection systems on science and relies on peer reviewed research to further direct program practice.

Applied behavior analysis is a science that uses the basic principles of how humans learn behavior by systematically manipulating variables to increase desired behaviors and decrease maladaptive ones. Some techniques that are used include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, differential reinforcement, extinction, prompting, shaping, and fading.

There are hundreds of teaching techniques that are used under the ABA umbrella. Techniques that are used in the Bernards Township classroom include incidental teaching, video modeling, audio modeling, schedule following, scripting, discrete trial instruction, and small group instruction. There are several key points that all these techniques have in common.

All the above teaching techniques utilize objectively defined target behaviors including circumstances under which these behaviors will occur, a criterion for mastery, a teaching procedure, a teaching probe to ensure generalization, strategies for maintaining acquired skills, and an inter observer agreement measurement

For more information on the preschool programs offered, please contact Allyson Read at 908-204-2565 Ext. 124